Torsion-indicator.



No. 828,731. PATENTED AUG.14, 1906. H. FUTTINGER.

TORSION INDICATOR.

APPLQIOATION FILED NOV. 4, 1905.

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APPLICATION FILED N 1905.

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PATENTED AUG. 14, 1906.

H. .FOTTINGER.

TORSION INDICATOR.

AIPPLIOATION FILED NOV. 4, 1905.

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TORSION INDICATOR. APPLICATION BIL-ED NOV. 4, 1905.

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No. 828,781. PATENTED AUG. 14, 1906' H. FUTTINGER. TORSION-INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 4, 1905.

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H ERMANN FOTTINGER, OF STETTIN, GERMANY.

TORSION-INDICATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 14, 1906.

Application filed November 4:, 1905. Serial No- 285,850.

T0 a/ZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HERMANN Fo'rTINGER, a subject of the King ofBavaria, residing at No. 4 Prutz street, Stettin, in the Kingdom ofPrussia, Germany, have invented new and useful Improvements inTorsion-Indicators, of which the following is a specification.

Myinventionrelates to an apparatus adapted to determine the rotarymoments of powerdriven shafts from their torsion in running andtransmitting energy, the apparatus being based on the fact that in allqualities of malleable iron or steel the angle or arc of torsion isproportional to the actual rotary moment.

The apparatus, which I designate a torsion-indicator, includes a tubefixed on the shaft with one end, two plates oppositely connected rigidlyto the other end of the tube and the shaft respectively, and levermechanism for visual or record indication.

The object of my invention is to provide indicating or recording meanswhich multiply the amount of torsion in order to attain a sufficientoscillation of the indicating device, thus rendering distinguishable thesize of torsion by a long path or oscillation.

The chief object of the invention is to provide means which secure ahigh exactness in the readings or records by so arranging the parts thatfrictional resistance, inertia, and centrifugal moments are minimized orpractically avoided, so that only a relatively small force will berequired for displacing the measuring and indicating means. Such anoperation is of high importance, in consideration of the necessity tomultiply the torsional arc of the shaft, which, in practice, amounts toonly 1.5 to 2.5 millimeters, from thirty-five to sixty times in order toobtain a suflicient oscillation or stroke of the indicating means ofabout eighty to one hundred millimeters. This is especially so when theshaft runs at 'high velocities, as in the case of steam-turbines, forexample, because the lever mechanism is then submitted to centrifugalforce, so that the pivots are severely loaded.

A further object of the invention is to provide means placed at the sideof the shaft, non-rotating, which means enable to put the indicatingdevice into or out of operation, as required. I

I attain these objects by placing some parts of the multiplyingappliance outside the shaft stationary, while arranging the ro-- tatingparts serving for multiplication of the torsional are partially orcompletely balanced. Besides, means are provided capablev of operatingand rotating or axially displacing the indicating or recordingapparatus. When using low velocities, both multiplying parts may rotatewith the shaft and only one of the same may be balanced, while therecording means may be operated by gears sit uated outside the shaft.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification,Figure 1 is a side elevation of an indicating apparatus for highvelocities. Fig. 2 is a modification of a detail of the apparatus. Figs.3, 4, and 5 represent in front elevation, side elevation,

and horizontal sectional view, respectively, a device for disconnectingthe indicating-needle from the rotating part of the apparatus. Figs. 6and 7 show in a side elevation and top view, respectively, amultiplying-lever of the apparatus, which is partially balanced. Figs.8, 9, and 10 represent in side elevation, top view, and front elevation,respectively, a multiplying-lever completely balanced. Fig. 11 is a topview of a modification of the apparatus. Fig. 12 is a longitudinalsectional view of a further modification. Fig. 13 is a top view of arecording apparatus. Fig. 14 is a diagrammatic side elevation of amodification of the apparatus having two opposite tubes, and Fig. 15 isa side elevation of a further modification of the multiplying mechanism.

Similar characters of reference designate similar or equivalent partsthroughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring first to the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1, A designates thepower-transmitting shaft, the torsion, and therefore the rotary moments,of which are to be measured. The indlcating apparatus comprises a tubeB, fixed with one end at C by a setscrew or other suitable means uponthe shaft,

also two plates, one of which, D, is fixed upon the other end of thetube, the second, E, opposite to it on the shaft A or upon asimilarlyarranged tube, as represented in Fig. 14, and the indicatingdevice composed of lever mechanism and connected with the plates whichactuate the said levers. The free end of the tube B, with the plate D,may be'concentrically guided on the shaft by an in wardly-projectingflange 11, Fig. 12, or by adjustable rollers 12, Fig. 11.

The mechanism serving for multiplying the torsional are or angleconsists of two parts, of which one (part I) rotates with the shaft,while the second (part II) effecting further multiplication and showingor recording the multiplied torsional are upon a scale or arecording-surface is arranged stationary outside the shaft. Thereforeonly the stationary-arranged indicator blade or point effects therequisite large stroke, while only that part of the multiplying devicewhich procures the first multiplication and having a comparativelyminute oscillation rotates with the shaft and is submitted to the vibration and to centrifugal force which is always inherent in movement onthe shaft with high velocitiesin steam-turbines or ships engines, forinstance.

The first multiplying part .consistsof a two-armed lever 1 2 3,pivotally fixed at 2 on a lateral projection H of the plate E. Theshorter arm is hinged at 1 to a rod G of an adjustable micrometer devicearranged in an eye F of the plate D. The said device comprises a sleeveG, provided with screwthreads on its outer face and engagingcorresponding female screw-threads in the eye F.

In the sleeve G a bolt G, connected with the rod G is contained andsecured by convenient means in such a manner that the sleeve may berevolved around the bolt, but axial movement with respect to each otherbeing prevented. Consequently when the sleeve G is screwed forward orbackward in the eye F it carries the bolt G, and the rod G with it,axially in the same direction. By these means the adjustment or testingof the apparatus is enabled. If the torsional arc is small, theelasticity of the rod G will allow the relative displacement of thelever 1 2 3 and the connecting device G; but any other suitableconnection may be used.

The longer arm of the above-mentioned multiplying-lever is hinged at 3to one end of a rod, the other end of which is connected at 4 by meansof a joint with a sleeve 8, capable. ofsliding axially on the shaft A,Fig. 1, or on the tube B, Fig. 11, and guided thereon by suitableguides, such as shown at 29, Fig. 11, for example, in order to preventcircumferential displacement of the sleeve on its carr1er.

Between two flanges of the sleeve 8 'an annular groove 16 is formed inwhich is placed a slide-piece 26, (similar to that of a governor,') aroller, or the like, pivoted at 6 to a lever 5 to 7. This lever, whichis the second multiplying part, is mounted outside the shaft in acarrier or standard 10, bearing an indicating-scale 9, over whichtravels a hand or index 7, arranged at the free end of the lever 5 6 7.This arrangement of the two parts has the advantage to reduce thedisplacement of the heavy sleeve and the friction caused thereby to aminimum, which, owing to the minute useful path, (equal to the torsionalare 1.5 to 2.5 millimeters,) is here 6 5 indispensable.

Instead of or besides the index 7 a recording-stylus may be attached tothe lever 5 6 7, which stylus travels over a cylinder rotated throughthe shaft A by means of a belt or gearwheels, or time-driven, so thatvisual indications by the index or a diagrammatic record by the stylus,or both, may be obtained.

In order to compensate for axial displacements of the shaft, such as maybe caused through the thrust of turbines or propellers, thescale-carrier 10, with the lever-bearing 5, may be displaced on acarriage arrangement in the same sense as the shaft. This may beeffected by hand or, as shown in Fig. 1, automatically by the shaftitself, owing to the fact that in an annular groove 13 on the shaft asliding collar 14 is axially moved with the shaft and displaces thestandard 10 by means of a rod 15.

When the displacement is effected byhand, the required amount of thesame or the reestablishment of the proper relative position of shaft andscale-carriage 10 may be read upon an auxiliary indicating device, Flg.2,-

fixed upon the scale-carriage. This consists of the lever 20 21 22 withunequal arms, the point 20 being placed in a fine circumferenti al sloton the shaft, while the point of rotation 21 is connected with thecarriage 10. The longer arm 21 22 shows the axial displacement of theshaft magnified on an auxiliary scale 23, and after the carriage hasbeen correctly adjusted the point 22 must always rest upon the zero ofthe scale.

In accordance with another method of carrying the invention intopractice the kinematic connection between the rotary part 1 2 3 and thestationary mounted art 5 6 7 of the 'multiplying'mechanism or t e meansfor serving to their connection may be arranged in such a manner that itmay be released for the purpose of obviating constant wear of the saidmeans and of the multiplying mechanism. A number of views of a device ofthis kind are given in Figs. 3 to 5 for the case inwhich the kinematicconnection is obtained by means of a sleeve 8 and a sliding part 26,sliding against it with a slot formed in it and embracing a rib orflange 16 of the sleeve. The sliding part 26, which is connected withthe second multiplying device, may in this case be separated from theconstantly-rotating sleeve 8 by turning it over around the spindle 27,as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 4. The arm carrying the sliding piece26 is provided at its free end with a bearing 28, in which a bolt 6,attached to the block 26', is

journaled, so that the block 26 is enabled to maintain its verticalposition when the lever 5 to 7 moves forward and backward with thesleeve 8. p

In orderto permit of utilizing the arrangement even with the highestvelocities, the part of the device arranged on the shaft may be quite orapproximately balanc edfor example, by arranging all large transmissionparts (such as levers, gear-wheel spindles, roller-spindles, and thelike) in such a mannor that their center of gravity falls in the centerof the shaft and even when oscillations occur is only separatedtherefrom to an exceedingly small extent. By this means any one-sidedpressure on the pivots and the friction resulting from the same isentirely prevented.

Figs. 6 and 7 show a constructional form of a lever-shaft which isbalanced for almost any position by means of counterweights 19. Thelever is supported at three points of its axis of oscillation and partlysurrounds the shaft A. Its center of gravity moves but minutely out ofthe axis of rotation of the A shaft when the lever is operated, as shownin Fig. 7

Figs. 8 to 10 illustrate an examplefor a completely-balancedlever-shaft, the center of gravity of which remains in the axis ofrotation at all positions of the lever. In this constructional form thelever consists of a ring 17, encircling the shaft A and provided withdiametrically arranged arms 18, of which the shorter one bearscounterwei ghts 1 9 for balancing purposes. The lever is pivoted at twoor more points 2 on the projections H of one of the plates, Figs. 11 and12. If it is desired to utilize the whole length of the portion of ashaft located between a bearing K and a flange I or between two bearingsor two flanges, the sleeve 8 may be arranged on the tube B, Fig. 11, inwhich case the lever 1 2 3 must be pivoted on the plate D, while theadjusting and connecting parts G are attached to the plate E. Themultiplying part 5 6 7 is but diagrammatically shown in Fig. 11, and itmay be of any convenient construction, such as illustrated in Figs, 1 to5, for example. With high velocities and tnin shafts, such as employedfor turbines and electromotors, flexure and shaking of the shaft oftenoccur, the vibration thereby being transmitted to the multiplyingdevice. In order to avoid these defects, by raising the critical numberof revolutions the tube B may serve for supporting the shaft A. Asillustrated by Fig. 12, to this end the tube can be made very strong, sothat it is capable of supporting the shaft by means of guiding orbearing rings L, inserted between the tube and the shaft. If required,the tube may be carried by a bearing, such as the ball-bearing Millustrated, for example, for the purpose of further strengthening theconstruction, thereby further raising the critical number ofrevolutions. Instead of the two plates above men tioned rings D and Emay be used for the same purpose, having radial arms D and E,respectively, on which arms the first multiplying parts may be arranged,as above described. The said rings, as well as the body 17 of the lever1 2 3, the tube B, and the sleeve 8, are preferably formed in two halvesand bolted together after having been mounted around the shaft, so thatthe apparatus can be readily brought in place upon any shaft withoutrequiring alteration of the power-transmitting parts, which arrangementmay be easily understood from Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 represents a recording; apparatus for shafts rotating with lowvelocities, but having important variations of the amount of the rotarymoment with every revolution, as with shafts driven by piston steam-en:gines, so that exact readings cannot be obtained by an index, owing tothe constant oscillation of the same, and a diagrammatic record must bemade. In this constructional form the whole multiplying device rotateswith the shaft, while the record-surface is driven by means situatedoutside the shaft in repose, whereby provision is taken to rotate therecord-surface with such a velocity that the velocity with which thestylus slides over the said surface is comparatively low, so as to givecorrect records. The lever 5 6 7 of the second multiplying part iscounter- Weighted and pivoted at 5 on a bar 30, proj ecting from theplate E, and the connectingrod fixed to the first lever at 3 is hingeddirectly to the said lever at 6. A stylus at tached to the free end 7 ofthe said lever rests on a record-cylinder 38, mounted in bearings on thesleeve 8 and provided with a gear meshing with a number of consecutiveintermediate gears 39, the last of which, 40, meshes with a toothed rim41, loosely arranged between two flanges 42 of the sleeve 8, a freecircumferential movement between the said rim 41 and the sleeve 8therewith being enabled. A finger or stud 43 is affixed to the rim 41,which stud can be arrested by a stop 44 moved in its path, whereupon thegear-wheel 40 rolls on the fixed rim 41 when the sleeve 8 is rotatedwith the shaft, thereby also rotating the record-cylinder 38 by means ofthe intermediate gears 39 with reduced velocity. The means for rotatingthe sleeve 3 consist of a finger 35, projecting from the plate E, and ofa spring-pressed lever 36, affixed to the sleeve 8, which parts are inoperative engagement when the sleeve is in its left end position. (Shownin the drawings.) The shaft A and the plate E, rotating in the directionof the arrow, carry with them the sleeve by means of the describedclutch. The sleeve 8 is also provided with a flange 31, which is looselyembraced by the forked end of an arm 32, mounted upon a carriage 33,which is movable lengthwise on guides by the me diation of a crank-endedscrew-spindle 34. When the carriage 33 is moved to the right, it drawsthe sleeve in the same direction and presses its flange 31 against aprojection K of the bearing K, as shown by dotted lines, so that thesleeve will no more be rotated by the frictional contact between thesleeve and the shaft. In this position of the sleeve a new record-sheetmay be affixed to the record-cylinder, which sheet is suitably ruled inthe usual manner, to indicate the respective coordinate results. Whenthe sleeve is returned to the left and reaches its end position, thestud 35 strikes the lever 36, cushioned by the spring 37, therebyinterlocking the sleeve with the plate E'without shock. The stop 44 maybe either stationary, so that the rim 41 is prevented from rotation assoon as the sleeve is in its left end position, or adapted to be swunginto or out of its operative position by means of a handle 45 or thelike, as desired.

In the modification shown in Fig. 14 two tubes B B are employed, fixedwith their outer ends at C C, respectively, in the abovedescribedmanner, their inner or opposite ends carrying the plates E and D,respectively. It is obvious that the amount of torsion of the shaft Abetween the points C and C is indicated in the same manner with a singletube, as indicated in Fig. 1, or with the two tubes B and B. In themultiplying mechanism here represented a second multiplying-lever 5O 6O70, pivoted at 50 on a bracket 'I-I, projecting from the plate D, isemployed, which lever is capable of further multiplying the oscillationof the lever 1 2 3 by being connected at with the said lever by means ofa link, its magnified oscillation being transmitted to the sleeve 8through a link connection between the free end of this lever and thepoint 4 of the sleeve 8. In place of lever mechanism any other suitablepositive transmitting means may be used, for example, as shown in Fig.15, rackbars G and 51 and toothed sectors 1 and 3*, respectively,meshing with one another.

I have disclosed several constructional forms of the apparatus in theaccompanying drawings for purpose of examples; but obviously the devicemay be varied in different ways without departing from the principle ofmy invention. Also combinations of the parts shown in the differentfigures may be made. I therefore do not wish to be limited to theillustrated constructional apparatus; but

What I broadly claim as my invention, and desire to secure by LettersPatent, is

1. In an apparatus for determining the rotary moments of shafting, thecombination with a shaft, of a tube fixed with one end upon the shaft,two plates oppositely arranged upon the free end of the tube and uponthe shaft respectively, means connected with the plates and adapted tomultiply the relative rotary displacement of the plates, means forfurther multiplyim and showin the amount of the rotary disp lacement,said means being located outside the shaft, and means for operativelyconnecting the two multiplying parts, substantially as described.

2. In an apparatus for determining the ro-' tary moments of shafting,the combination with a shaft, of a tube fixed with one end upon theshaft, two plates oppositely arranged on the free end of the tube andupon the shaft respectively, means rotating with the shaft and adaptedto multiply the relative rotary displacement of the two plates, meansfor further multiplying the said displacement arranged stationary, andmeans for operatively connecting the two multiplying parts,substantially as described.

3. In an apparatus for determining the rotary moments of shafting, thecombination with a shaft, of a tube fixed with one end upon the shaft,two plates oppositely arranged upon the free end of the tube and uponthe shaft respectively, a two-armed le ver pivoted on one of the plates,means for connecting the shorter arm of the said lever with the otherplate, a second multiplyinglever arranged outside the shaft and swingingover a scale, and means for operatively connecting the two multiplyingparts, substantially as described.

4. In an apparatus for determining the rotary moments of shafting, thecombination with a shaft, of a tube fixed with one end upon the shaft,two plates oppositely arranged upon the free end of the tube and uponthe shaft respectively, a two-armed lever pivoted on one of the plates,means for connecting the shorter arm of the said lever with the otherplate, a second multiplyinglever arranged outside the shaft and swingingover a scale, and a sleeve axially displaceable on the shaft by thelonger arm ofthe rotating multiplying-lever, said sleeve beingoperatively engaged with the stationary lever, substantially asdescribed.

5. In an apparatus for determining the rotary moments of shafting, thecombination with a shaft, of a tube fixed with one end upon the shaft,two plates oppositely arranged upon the free end of the tube and uponthe shaft respectively, a two-armed lever pivoted to one of the plates,means for connecting the shorter arm of the said lever with the otherplate, a second multiplyinglever arranged outside the shaft and swingingover a scale, and a sleeve axially displaceable by the longer arm of therotating multiplying-lever, said sleeve being operatively engaged withthe stationary-arranged lever by means adapted to connect or release thetwo parts, substantially as described.

6. In an apparatus for determining the rotary moments of shafting, thecombination with a shaft, of a tube fixed with one end upon the shaft,two plates oppositely arranged upon the free end of the tube and uponthe shaft respectively, means connected with the plates and adapted tomultiply the relative rotary displacement of the plates, means forfurther multiplying and showing the amount of the rotary displacement,said means being located outside the shaft on a carriage adapted'to bemoved in conformity with the axial thrust of the shaft, and means foroperatively connecting the two multiplying parts, substantially asdescribed.

7. In an apparatus for determining the rotary moments of shafting, thecombination with a shaft, of a tube fixed with one end upon the shaft,two plates oppositely arranged upon the free end of the tube and uponthe shaft respectively, means connected with the plates and adapted tomultiply the relative rotary displacement of the plates, means forfurther multiplying and showing the amount of the said rotarydisplacement, a carriage adapted to be displaced lengthwise and bearingthe second multiplying mechanism, connecting means between the shaft andthe carriage capable of automatically displacing the latter inconformity with the axial movement of the shaft, and means foroperatively con necting the two multiplying parts, substantially asdescribed.

8. In an apparatus for determining the rotary moments of shafting, thecombination with a shaft, of a tube fixed with one end upon the shaft,guiding or hearing means interposed between the shaft and the tube atseveral places and at the ends of the tube, two plates oppositelyarranged upon the free end of the tube and upon the shaft respectively,and means adapted to multiply and show the amount of the relative rotarydisplacement of the plates, substantially as described.

9. In an apparatus for determining the rotary moments of shafting, thecombination with a shaft, of a tube fixed with one end up on the shaft,guiding or bearing means interposed between the shaft and the tube,bearing means for supporting the tube, two plates oppositely arrangedupon the free end of the tube and upon the shaft respectively, and meansadapted to multiply and show the amount of the relative rotarydisplacement of the plates, substantially as described.

10. In an apparatus for determining the rotary moments of shafting, thecombination with a shaft, of a tube fixed with one end upon the shaft,two plates oppositely arranged upon the free end of the tube and uponthe shaft respectively, a two-armed lever pivoted on one of the plates,counterweights adapted to balance the said lever in such a manner thatits center of gravity falls in the axis of rotation of the shaft and ismaintained therein as far as practicable when the lever oscillates,means for connecting the shorter arm of the said lever with the otherplate, a second multiplying mechanism, and means for operativelyconnecting the two multiplying parts, substantially as described.

11 In an apparatus for determining the rotary moments of shafting, thecombination with a shaft, of a tube rigidly fixed thereon, a plate fixedon the tube, an opposite plate fixed on the shaft, means rotating withthe shaft, operating to multiply the relative rotary displacement of theplates, and stationary devices for further multiplying saiddisplacements, substantially as described.

12. In an apparatus for determining the rotary moments of shafting, thecombination with a shaft, of a tube fixed with one end upon the shaft,two plates oppositely arranged upon the free end of the tube and uponthe shaft respectively, means adapted to multiply the relative rotarydisplacement of the two plates and bearing a record-stylus, arecord-cylinder rotatably mounted on a sleeve interlocked with theshaft, and a stationary or arrested device for driving therecord-cylinder with reduced velocity, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification inpresence of two subscribing witnesses.

HERMANN FOTTINGER.

Witnesses HEINRICH DENTLER, HANS HILDEBRAND.

